Some things are meant to be. When Josh Hutcherson lost the role of Spider-Man to Andrew Garfield, he didn’t know what the future held for him. Little did he realize that it would lead him to the iconic role of Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games series. For that, the actor remains forever grateful to Garfield.
Reflecting on it now, it’s nearly impossible to imagine anyone else in Garfield’s place after his tenure as Spider-Man. The idea that Hutcherson could have almost donned that suit is quite wild. Fortunately, everything worked out swimmingly for both actors.
Josh Hutcherson is Grateful Andrew Garfield Secured the Role of Spider-Man Instead of Him
Although Josh Hutcherson might have been a great Peter Parker, it’s still weird to think about him swinging from building to building in that iconic suit that Andrew Garfield donned. While answering the spicy questions for Wired’s Web’s Most Searched Questions, he inevitably faced inquiries about his Spider-Man audition and thus, he explained what really went on. He said,
“I [auditioned for] the Andrew Garfield version. One of my friends who had been my stunt double for a few movies, he and I went down to this like stunt training gym called 8711, and we decided to shoot me doing some Spider-Man stunts. I didn’t get it, but the crazy thing was like, I think a month after that, I got cast in Hunger Games.”
Although it might have been seen as a disappointment to him, little did he know that what was waiting for him in the future would eventually change his life. Immediately after being beaten out by Andrew Garfield for the role of the superhero, he was cast in the 2013 The Hunger Games alongside Jennifer Lawrence. Thus, the actor is immensely thankful to the Spider-Man actor for beating him in that particular game of casting.
Josh Hutcherson Was the Perfect Peeta Mellark!
Not only do the fans agree, but the filmmakers also cannot stop singing praises of the actor. Director Gary Ross explained how he thought casting Peeta would be one of the hardest challenges they had to tackle while making the film, but Josh Hutcherson made it a lot easier for them. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, he revealed,
“When I read the book, I thought Peeta would be the hardest role to cast, and I feel so lucky that we found someone who embodies every aspect of such a complex character,”
And what could be a greater compliment than also being praised by the writer who wrote the books the movies were based on, Suzanne Collins? She also shared with EW,
“I was fortunate enough to be in the room with Gary Ross when Josh came in to audition,Three lines into the read I knew he’d be fantastic. Josh totally captured Peeta’s temperament, his sense of humor and his facility for language. I’m thrilled to have him aboard.”
According to various reports, the actor competed with four other actors, whose names are not confirmed, to ultimately land the role. It is now impossible to imagine anyone else playing Peeta Mellark.
